Hummus is a tasty dip many people like. It comes from the Middle East and is loaded with fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.
Therefore, many folks might think if it is good for people then it is good for their dogs. However, this is NOT true.
Why? Because a lot of its ingredients are toxic to dogs. It is made from chickpeas, lemon juice, garlic, onions, sesame seeds, salt, and olive oil. Then those ingredients are mashed up together to make a paste and it is often used as a dip or to extend hamburger meat, etc.
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Can Dogs Eat Hummus Safely?
So when asked the question if dogs can eat hummus, the answer is a NO! It contains too many things in it that are toxic to dogs. So don’t feed your pup hummus and stick to treats meant for your furry friend to eat as you both relax together.
The Toxic Ingredients in Hummus?
Let’s break down the ingredients in hummus and see which ones are bad for dogs:
Are Chickpeas Safe for Dogs?
Chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans) — Dogs can eat chickpeas, which is the main ingredient of hummus. But they have got to be plain and boiled and then mashed up.
Only fresh chickpeas can be given, as canned chickpeas have salt and other preservatives added. They can eat a small amount of fresh, boiled, and mashed chickpeas.
Chickpeas have nutrients like potassium, lecithin, as well as vitamins A, B, and C. These are healthy for your dog, so that is why is ok for him to have moderate amounts of chickpeas if they are made correctly as explained above.
Related Post: Can Dogs Eat Spicy Food? Here are The Goods and Bad (With Tips)
Garlic is Harmful For Dogs
Garlic is very dangerous for dogs. It is considered to be a poison to them because it damages the red blood cells. All kinds of garlic are toxic for dogs to include raw, cooked, dried, or powdered. Garlic causes anemia, which means they have less red blood cells. It can also damage their internal organs and even kill them.
It only takes a tiny amount of garlic to poison dogs, so no matter how much they ate you need to call a veterinarian as soon as possible. Only as little as 15 to 30 grams of garlic can kill a dog, and this can add up fast since an average clove of garlic is between 7 and 10 grams.
Signs of garlic poisoning are: nausea and vomiting, as well as diarrhea, weakness, high heart rate, and they can even collapse. They also have pale gums, the pee is brown or red, they can’t coordinate their muscles, the drool a lot, and are lethargic.
The bad thing is this can take a few days so they could be poisoned and the owner won’t even know it until it may be too late.
Lemon juice: This is of course from lemons, a citrus fruit which has a chemical in it called psoralens. This upsets dogs’ digestive systems and will cause indigestion.
Olive oil: Dogs can have a small amount of plain olive oil, about a teaspoon for each 20 pounds they weight. This won’t hurt them by itself.
Onions: Onions however are just as bad as garlic for dogs, as they too will damage red blood cells and cause the dog to get anemia.
They can even cause sudden death in dogs if not treated right away. The symptoms for poisoning by onions is: extreme thirst, frequent urination (as well as the urine turns red), drooling, irritation of the mouth and tongue, nausea and vomiting, appetite loss, blue or pale gums, and a high heart rate.
You should call the veterinarian at once if you suspect your dog has onion poisoning.
Sesame seeds: Dogs can at a small amount of sesame seeds as they are not poisonous for dogs.
Tahini: This is an oil-like condiment created using toasted sesame seeds, and in moderation, it is ok for your dog to eat. It actually contains healthy fatty acids which are good for him but don’t go overboard with it.
Other Spices: Hummus might also have other things in it like spices that will upset your dog’s digestive system like peppers, so these are also not good for them to eat.
What to Do If Your Dog Eats Hummus
How can you tell if your dog ate too much hummus? In most cases he is going to either throw up violently or get explosive diarrhea after several hours.
You should call your veterinarian as soon as possible to prevent damage to your dog’s red blood cells and even possible sudden death. Watch them carefully to look for signs they are sick or in pain or acting strangely. Keep them near you until you can determine if things are serious or not.
Some dogs are more sensitive to hummus’ ingredients than others, so watch your dog carefully for signs of poisoning. If he only ate a tiny amount he may be ok but it is best to call your veterinarian for advice if you saw him eat it.
They can give you the best advice on what your next steps are and if you need to bring in your dog to be examined. DO NOT induce vomiting on your own, as this can be dangerous without medical advice.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is our furry friends like to share our food and snacks, but in many cases these are bad for them. Actually, some are also bad for us, but that is something to discuss with your own doctor!
We need to not automatically feed our snacks and foods to our dogs no matter how much they stare at you with those puppy soulful eyes.
Our dogs should be eating a balanced diet made for dogs that you can usually get quite easily in the form of different brands of dry, wet, and dehydrated, or even fresh foods made for dogs in different life stages like a puppy, adult, and old age.
If you own a dog be sure to read up on the things they need to stay healthy and happy.
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